'Bleeding' vegan burgers are coming to the UK

US plant-based company Beyond Meat is bringing its famous meat-free Beyond Burger to the UK early next year.

The plant-based burger, which is sold in the meat aisles of supermarkets despite being 100% vegan, is described by its maker as looking and cooking just like beef and has been a hit across the US, where it has been available since 2016.

Speaking at a the Compassion in World Farming conference, organised by the animal welfare campaigners of the same name, company chairman Seth Goldman responded to questions about the expansion of the company.

Giving the first quarter of 2018 as the planned launch, Goldman described UK expansion as a “profound opportunity” for plant based protein.

“In the case of the UK, we have strategically decided this is a priority market” he said. “We want to find significant partners to go to sale quickly.”

Goldman said the company plans to launch into both the UK retail and foodservice sectors, with “more emphasis on retail”.

At present, its overseas presence is limited to a deal to supply Hong Kong, which was announced in April.

Beyond Meat products are currently sold in 11,000 US locations. The brand’s beef-style burger is seen as a more accessible version of the ‘Impossible Burger’, as both closely resemble meat and even ‘bleed’. The Impossible Burger is currently only available at selected US restaurants, including David Chang’s Momofuku Nishi.

The Beyond Burger is made with a pea protein isolate and contains canola oil, refined coconut oil, water, yeast extract, maltodextrin, cellulose from bamboo, methylcellulose and potato starch, among other ingredients, that give it the eating qualities of meat.